NEW YORK – As a last minute reminder to consumers to obtain their passports, sellers of Caribbean destinations and hotels are offering incentives to obtain a passport in light of the impending Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), which will be implemented on Jan. 23, 2007 for all travelers re-entering the U.S. via air transportation.
Travelers arriving by land and sea will need to possess a passport as early as Jan. 1, 2008 (date to be determined).
“The Caribbean region applauds the WHTI and the U.S. Government’s efforts to increase security at the borders,” said Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). “However, we believe that by having different sets of rules depending on one’s mode of transportation — sea, air or land — travelers may become confused, which will discourage commerce and tourism.”
“We are concerned that the acceleration of the implementation deadline for airline passengers does not provide ample advance notice to enable the public to obtain passports,” Vanderpool-Wallace added.
Sellers of Caribbean travel hope the following offers will help keep people traveling to the Caribbean beyond Jan. 23, 2007. Incentives may include full reimbursement of basic passport fees, complimentary spa packages, golf greens fees, attraction tours, room upgrades, extra nights and gift shop purchases.
Governments
Jamaica launched a new program encouraging U.S. citizens to get their passports by rewarding vacationers who make Jamaica their first visit with their new passport. Rewards include special credits while on the island amounting to the cost of obtaining a passport.
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) also is implementing “Jamaican Morning Coffee Breaks” to encourage Americans to obtain their passports. The JTB will hold coffee breaks at major commuter terminals in Boston at South Station on Jan. 23, 2007; New York at Grand Central Station’s Vanderbilt Hall in Feb. 2007; Chicago, and Washington, DC, where consumers can actually apply for their passports onsite as well as collect the required forms. Free Jamaican coffee will be served.
For more information visit www.visitjamaica.com or call 1-800-233-4JTB (1-800-233-4582).
Anguilla Hotels
Arawak Beach Inn, Anguilla, is offering a special rate and a complimentary day-trip to those travelers who obtain a passport and make Anguilla the first stamp in their new passport. Rates start at $240 per person, based on double occupancy, and vary during different seasons. This offer is good for travel now through June 30, 2007. Visit www.arawakbeach.com or call 1-877-4-ARAWAK.
Aruba Hotels
Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort in Aruba offers a $25 food and beverage credit per person, per stay (minimum five-night stay) to those who make Aruba the first stamp in their passport. The promotion is valid now through Dec. 17, 2007. For more information visit www.AmsterdamManor.com or call 1-800-932-6509.
Holiday Inn SunSpree Aruba located in Aruba is offering a complimentary bottle of champagne and an upgrade from standard to superior rooms for those travelers who make Aruba the first stamp on their passport. A minimum of a five-night stay is required with travel through 2007. Visit www.holidayinn.com or call 1-888-HOLIDAY.
MVC Eagle Beach, Aruba is providing a $25 food and beverage credit per person, per stay (minimum five-night stay) to those customers who choose Aruba as their first destination with their new passport. This special is valid now through Dec. 17, 2007. Visit www.MVCEagleBeach.com or call 011-297-587-0110.
Westin Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino in Aruba provides a $50 food and beverage credit per person, per stay, valid now through 2007 for those who make Aruba the first stamp in their passport. For more information visit www.westin.com/aruba or call 1-866-978-5729.
Bahamas Hotels
Select hotels in Nassau and Paradise Island, the Bahamas, are offering free passports to those who visit the islands between Jan. 17, 2007 and Mar. 31, 2007.
Through this promotion, travelers will be reimbursed for the application and execution fees for their new passport. In order to receive the reimbursement, travelers must download the rebate form from www.NassauParadiseIsland.com and submit a completed copy with their paid hotel bill, airline boarding pass and a photocopy of each eligible traveler’s passport photo page. Passports must have been issued between Dec. 20, 2006 and Mar. 24, 2007.
A minimum of a two-night stay is required and a limit of four rebates per room is offered. Participating hotels in this promotion include: Atlantis, Paradise Island; Best Western Bay View Suites; British Colonial Hilton Nassau; Comfort Suites Paradise Island; Dillet’s Guest House; Graycliff Hotel; Harborside Resort at Atlantis; Nassau Beach Hotel; Nassau Palm Resort & Conference Center; One & Only Ocean Club; Orange Hill Beach Inn; Paradise Harbour Club & Marina, Paradise Island Beach Club; Paradise Island Harbour Resort All Inclusive; Radisson Cable Beach Resort; Red Carpet Inn; Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island; The Cove Atlantis; and Wyndham Nassau Resort.
Nassau and Paradise Island are also working to make the passport application process easier for travelers by featuring a user-friendly guide on the destination’s website.
For more information visit www.NassauParadiseIsland.com or call 1-888-627-7281.
Westin and Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort, located on Grand Bahama Island, is offering a $100 resort credit to guests who purchased a passport between Aug. 1, 2006 and Jan. 31, 2007 for travel now through Oct. 15, 2007. A maximum of one credit per room will be issued. For more information visit www.ourlucaya.com or call 1-888-627-7129 for the Sheraton or 1-888-627-7130 for the Westin.
Jamaica Hotels
Holiday Inn SunSpree Jamaica, located in Jamaica, is offering a complimentary bottle of domestic wine and an upgrade from standard to superior accommodations for those travelers who make Jamaica the first stamp on their passport. A minimum of a five-night stay is required for travel through 2007. Visit www.holidayinn.com or call 1-888-HOLIDAY.
FDR Pebbles and Franklyn D. Resort, both in Jamaica, are offering adult travelers a half-hour massage and each child (minimum of two) a Pebbles T-shirt. A minimum of a five-night stay is required as well as a passport with Jamaica as their first stamp. The offer is valid for travel now through April 5, 2007. For more information visit http://www.fdrholidays.com or call 1-800-654-1FDR.
Sunset Resorts, located in Jamaica, offers guests up to $200 in resort credit for those who make Jamaica the first stamp on their new passport. The offer is valid on bookings made now through Mar. 31, 2007. A minimum of a five-night stay is required and guests must present passport and passport application receipt in order to be eligible for the promotion. Visit www.sunsetresortsjamaica.com or call 1-800-234-1707.
St. Kitts Hotels
Frigate Bay Resort in St. Kitts is offering 20% off stays of three nights or more, during the hotel’s most popular time of year, to those who make St. Kitts the first stamp in their new passport. The booking window is now through Mar. 15, 2007 for travel now through Jan. 31, 2007, Mar. 1-11, 2007, and Mar. 26, 2007 through April 15, 2007. Guests will also receive a free rum punch upon arrival. For more information visit www.frigatebayresort.com or call 1-800-266-2185.
St. Lucia Hotels
Ladera Resort in St. Lucia will reimburse the cost to obtain a passport to travelers who make St. Lucia their first visit with their new passport. As an added incentive, Ladera will also provide guests with a leather passport case, a complimentary 30-minute Jet-Lag massage at the Ti Kaye Posé Spa and a beverage from the bar. This offer is valid now through Dec. 21, 2007. A minimum five-night stay is required. For more information visit www.ladera.com or call 1-800-738-4752.
St. Maarten Hotels
Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Princess Heights, Oyster Bay Beach Resort and Turquoise Shell Inn, all located in St. Maarten, are offering guests $100 in St. Maarten Bucks to be spent on island attractions with the purchase of their new or renewed passport issued after Dec. 15, 2006. Valid for travel now through Dec. 31, 2007 with a booking window now through Dec. 30, 2007. For more information visit www.st-maarten.com or call 1-888-874-7793.
Sonesta Maho Beach & Casino and Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino, located in St. Maarten, are offering guests $100 in St. Maarten Bucks to be spent on island attractions with the purchase of their new passport. Valid for travel Jan. 23, 2007 – Dec. 17, 2007, guests will receive the “bucks” to be spent at participating restaurants, hotels, car rental agencies, and retailers in Dutch St. Maarten through Dec. 31, 2007. Guests must show a new or renewed passport issued after Nov. 26, 2006 with St. Maarten as the first arrival stamp to redeem the promotion. A minimum of a five-night stay is required. Guests will receive a maximum of $200 in St. Maarten Bucks. For more information visit www.sonesta.com or call 1-800-223-0757.
Chain Hotels
Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean Resorts, including Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort (St. Thomas), Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino, and St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino, are offering a $100 resort credit (minimum five-night stay) for those who make any one of these properties their first visit with their new passport. This offer is valid now through April 30, 2007 for one person per room. Visit www.paradisebymarriott.com or call 1-888-PARADISE.
SuperClubs has nine resorts in the Caribbean including Grand Lido Negril Resort & Spa, Grand Lido Braco Resort & Spa, Breezes Runaway Bay Resort & Golf Club, Breezes Montego Bay, Hedonism II and Hedonism III, all in Jamaica; Breezes Bahamas in Nassau; Breezes Curacao Resort Spa & Casino; and Breezes Puerto Plata Resort Spa & Casino in the Dominican Republic. Through the “Passport Included” promotion, those travelers who obtain new passports or renew older ones, and stay at one of these SuperClubs’ properties, will receive the cost of obtaining a passport credited as part of a Super-Inclusive vacation. Travelers must book by Jan. 23, 2007, for travel anytime in 2007. For more information visit www.SuperClubs.com or call 1-800-GO-SUPER (1-800-467-8737).
Tour Operators
CheapCaribbean.com will reimburse the cost to acquire a passport for each member of the traveling party when booking through CheapCaribbean.com before Jan. 23, 2007. This offer is available for travel through 2007. The rebate form as well as original receipts must be mailed in within 30 days of booking the trip. Visit www.CheapCaribbean.com or call 1-800-915-2322.
Many Caribbean governments, as well as CTO, are creating public awareness campaigns to inform the public of the need to obtain a passport by the Jan. 23, 2007 WHTI implementation date as well as where and how to get one.
Passports may be obtained through the U.S. Postal Service. The passport fees are paid to the U.S. Department of State while Execution fees are paid to the Postmaster. Fees are as follows: Passport Fee ($67), Execution Fee ($30) and Photo Fee ($15). Fees for children under age 16 include: Passport Fee ($52), Execution Fee ($30) and Photo Fee ($15). Prospective passport seekers can provide their own passport photos.
For information about applying for a U.S. passport, visit http://usps.com/passport or call 800-ASK-USPS.
For information concerning the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, travelers can visit the U.S. State Departments’ website at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.
Private companies that offer U.S. passport services include International Visa Services, a passport expediting company that has partnered with CTO in order to help travelers obtain their passports.
International Visa Services ensures a passport will arrive in a timely manner as the company’s normal passport delivery time is five days, but can be reduced to one if needed. For more information on their services visit www.visalady.com or call 1-800-627-1112.
